CA: Police arrest Village People's original policeman in Daly City

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 7/14/05 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

DALY CITY, Calif. (AP) - Victor Edward Willis, the original policeman in the 1970s music group the Village People, was arrested by real police who allegedly found a gun and drugs in the former star's convertible, authorities said.

Willis, who co-wrote disco hits such as "Macho Man" and "In the Navy" before leaving the Village People in the late 1970s, was taken into custody late Monday after an officer stopped the musician in his Chevrolet Corvette in Daly City, just south of San Francisco. Willis also had an outstanding $15,000 felony warrant for possession of narcotics, police said.

Police said Willis didn't have a valid license or identification and at first lied about his name and residence. Inside the car, the officer found a .45-caliber handgun as well as rock cocaine and drug paraphernalia, according to a police report. It was unclear what prompted the initial traffic stop, Daly City Police Lt. Matt Bushong said.

Police arrested Willis on suspicion of six felony counts, including possession of a firearm, driving on a suspended license and transportation of cocaine. The musician was booked into the San Mateo County jail and posted $100,000 bail Tuesday.

Police found traces of cocaine and other drug paraphernalia when they searched his home at the Franciscan Mobile Home Park in Daly City, where two American pit bull terriers were locked in the former star's bedroom.

Willis is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 16.

[NormsRevenge]

There goes any Reunion tours in the near future.

[sheik yerbouty]

There will be a new tune: "In the Cellblock"..

[snarks_when_bored]

"Please don't throw me in the briar patch!"

[SuperSonic]

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Let me guess - when they stopped him he said "Do you know who I am?"

[BurbankKarl]

You aint so Macho now, are ya Mr. Big?

[AppyPappy]

I heard he could be gay

[BurbankKarl]

He should have taken his Tylenol PM

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

What do they mean, "former" star?

[Semper Paratus]

He can try out now for the jailhouse play "Prisoner of Love".

[Bear_Slayer]

Get out! That ain't for real, is it?

[Mylo]

Now he's singing...

"Its fun to stay at the...

J-A-I-L."

[My2Cents]

All together now...

Y..M..C..A...

[RebelBanker]

From another thread, apparently so.

[Horatio Gates]

Once you leave the Villiage People there's nowhere to go but down.

[My2Cents]

[Frank_Discussion]

Or go butt up...

[Kenton]

Having been "in the Navy", I always particularly hated these creeps.

[American Quilter]

Wow. The police actually arrested a gay man in California? I imagine the ACLU will be there shortly to take up his case.

[sean327]

"It's fun to stay at the SMCJ"

[Hatteras]

[FreePaul]

It was unclear what prompted the initial traffic stop,...

Really? I'm sure that in time the officer will think of some reason for pulling him over.

[Hank Rearden]

Once you leave the Villiage People there's nowhere to go but down.

I'd say living in a trailer, in a Daly City trailer park, is pretty much the bottom.

But he probably likes bottoms, so it's ok.

[Yossarian]

Police found traces of cocaine and other drug paraphernalia when they searched his home at the Franciscan Mobile Home Park in Daly City, where two American pit bull terriers were locked in the former star's bedroom.

I know that home prices out here in the Bay are way, way expensive, but a guy who pulled in his level of cash is in a mobile home park? That's gotta hurt his pride knowing that info's out there now. It probably hurts his pride worse than the drug charges....

[sharktrager]

Is there "down" from the Village People?

Scared Bunny Blog
Not for the timid

[Horatio Gates]

Is there "down" from the Village People?

I suppose Wham! was pretty down too.

[Old Professer]

Driving a Corvette and living in a trailer park; that fall to the bottom just leaves a man with no pride.

[green iguana]

I'd say living in a trailer, in a Daly City trailer park, is pretty much the bottom.

What about living in a van, down by the river?

[sharktrager]

At least Wham only made you wear a stupid t-shirt. Village People had a guy in a loin cloth!

Scared Bunny Blog
Not for the timid

[NorCalRepub]

remember when we used to call them "welfare Cadillacs" in the 60s and 70s.......living in cardboard homes with no furniture or food but driving those rigs is beyond stupid

[Hank Rearden]

What about living in a van, down by the river?

At least that'd have a water view.

[KimmyJaye]

If he was pulled over for a traffic violation, how is it the cops could search his residence?

[brooklyn dave]

That is funny

[green iguana]

how is it the cops could search his residence?

I would think a search warrant would be quick and easy, given what they found in his car.

[Martin Tell]

If he was pulled over for a traffic violation, how is it the cops could search his residence?

He was probably stupid enough to ask them to feed his dogs. Either that or what the cops found in 'Vette gave them probable cause for a search, or they asked a judge for a search warrant.

Maybe it wasn't a valid search; cops make mistakes regarding searches all the time. I think Mr. Village Person's only hope is for his lawyer to challenge the traffic stop as invalid. I wonder if he was known to the cops already and they were just seeking an opportunity to bust this slime. How many "former stars" drive a Corvette and live in a trailer park in Daly City?

[L98Fiero]

"Willis also had an outstanding $15,000 felony warrant for possession of narcotics, police said"

I think that would give the green light for a search of the residence.

[GOP_1900AD]

I saw their reunion show at the San Mateo County Fair last year. There was only one of the original - um - "fellahs" - in the line up. As for this guy, given that he was busted in DC, I'm thinking he must have been in the Sunnydale Project off of Visitacion Ave a few minutes before, hangin' out with the Crips. It's an odd picture - because this dude so far as I know is a Castro Boy. Castro Boy hanging out with the Crips? That's just too strange!

[KimmyJaye]

Thanks for the info.

I wasn't aware that the cops could do that.

Interesting and scary at the same time.

[RightWingAtheist]

Actually, he's straight. He was "outed" when he was first arrested for drug possession, and it was revealed he was in the middle of divorce #3 (His second wife was Phyllis Rashad).

[RightWingAtheist]

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Willis also had an outstanding $15,000 felony warrant for possession of narcotics.... didn't have a valid license or identification.... Inside the car, a .45-caliber handgun as well as rock cocaine and drug paraphernalia....

And Victor actually STOPPED HIS CAR with all this baggage? I would have gunned it for the local mall parking garage and ditched the car in a heartbeat..